Are you writing a short essay or dissertation for a doctorate? If so, you are likely familiar with the term “thesis statement”, which is actually one of the most difficult sentences to formulate in an academic report. Fortunately, there are a few ground rules you can apply to make sure your thesis statement is truly effective and appealing to the reader. One of them is to make sure the thesis statement is composed of debatable analytical premises, not absolute truth.
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Part 1 of 3: Designing a Quality Thesis Statement
Step 1. Begin by asking questions which will be answered using a thesis statement
Although it really depends on the level of complexity of the subject to be discussed, in general, almost all thesis statements can be constructed from a question.
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Question:
"What are the benefits of using computers for 4th graders?"
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Thesis:
"The use of computers allows 4th graders to benefit from science and technology education from an early age."
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Question:
"Why is the Mississippi River such an important object in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn?"
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Thesis:
"The existence of the river is important because it symbolizes separation and unity at the same time, especially because it is the Mississippi River that separates the countries of the two main characters in the book, as well as opens opportunities for both of them to get to know each other."
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Question:
"Why do so many people harbor anger at vegans, feminists and other subgroups that are actually 'morally right'?"
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Thesis:
"Based on the results of comprehensive sociological research, it was found that humans naturally feel considered "inferior" by other humans who are "morally right." This assumption is what ultimately triggers anger and conflict that doesn't really exist."
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Step 2. Adjust the thesis statement to your type of writing
Each essay has a different purpose; some are aimed at persuading the reader, and some are aimed at simply providing information to the reader. By knowing the type and purpose of writing, you will undoubtedly be helped to find the best thesis statement.
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Analytical:
An essay that is made to describe an issue so that it can be easier for readers to understand and assess.
An example of a thesis statement in an analytical essay: "Intergenerational dynamics are one of the biggest contributors to the tension in this drama, especially since age was the motive behind the violence and unrest that rocked King Lear's throne."
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Exposition:
Essays created to broaden the reader's knowledge of a particular issue.
An example of a thesis statement in an expository essay: "The explosive philosophy of the 1800s, such as Positivism, Marxism, and Darwinism, actually denied and undermined Christianity by encouraging people to focus more on the real and tangible world."
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Argumentative:
Essays made to advance a claim, or support an opinion, in order to change the mindset of the reader.
An example of a thesis statement in an argumentative essay: "Without the cool hands of Barack Obama and his specific decisions, America would never have been able to crawl out of the black hole they entered in the early 2000s."
Step 3. State your position in a very specific way to strengthen the thesis statement
Through a thesis statement, try to describe the issues that will be raised, along with your position, in detail, so that later you can more easily present arguments and supporting evidence in the report. Consider the following examples:
- "Although the issue of slavery was shared by both sides of the Civil War, states in the North fought for moral reasons, while states in the South fought for their independence."
- "The main problem in the US steel industry is the lack of funding to renovate existing plant and equipment."
- "Hemingway's stories helped create a new style of prose by involving extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and typical Anglo-Saxon diction."
Step 4. Compose a new and fresh argument
Basically, the best thesis statements are those that take a new and interesting approach to a topic. By using a fresh and dynamic thesis statement, surely your writing will look fresh and dynamic.
- "After three or four times seeing him self-harm, anyone would eventually realize that Huck Finn was the world's first true sadomasochist."
- "The advent of internet technology has actually made copyright laws irrelevant especially because today, everyone can and should be allowed to access writing, films, art and music at no cost."
- "While it has worked well for the last 200 years, recent research shows that the United States needs to quickly replace its two-party system, as quickly as it can."
Step 5. Make sure your thesis statement is provable
Don't decide on a thesis statement before doing your research. Remember, the thesis statement is the result of research, not the door to research, especially because the validity of the selected thesis must be able to be supported by evidence.
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Example of a Qualified Thesis Statement:
- "Blake's willingness to admit, embrace, and question contradictions allowed him to forge his own beliefs, and become a stronger person because of them. In the end, temporarily losing faith was the only way to make his poetry sound convincing."
- "Based on its well-documented philosophy of life and beliefs, an existential society that has no idea of a past nor a future is going nowhere."
- "Through Ode to a Nightingale, which is read through the eyes of modern deconstruction, it is clear that Keats views poetry as subjective and dynamic literature, rather than rigid."
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Examples of Unqualified Thesis Statements:
- "The American Revolution was won by the wrong people." Although it sounds unique and striking, proving the subject of "right" and "wrong" is very difficult and too subjective to do.
- "Genetic inheritance is the theory that binds every interaction between human beings." The thesis statement is actually too complicated and redundant, especially because the scope of "every interaction between human beings" is very broad.
- "Paul Harding's novel Tinkers is actually the embodiment of the cries and howls for help of a writer who is clearly suffering from depression." Unless you've had an in-depth interview with Paul Harding, or have trusted sources that come from deep within the author's life, nothing can prove the truth of this thesis statement.
Part 2 of 3: Generating a Correct Thesis Statement
Step 1. State the thesis statement correctly
Remember, the thesis statement is made so that the reader is able to understand the arguments and/or opinions that you want to emphasize in the report. In particular, a thesis statement is useful for guiding the reader in tracing the direction of your argumentation, analysis, and interpretation of a subject. If using the simplest language, the thesis statement should be able to answer the question, "What is the content of this report?" In addition, a thesis statement must:
- able to declare beliefs, not facts or observations. Don't worry, you always have a place to present facts and observations to support the thesis statement in the body of the report.
- able to demonstrate your position, as a writer, on an issue.
- be able to be the main idea and explain the main issues that you will discuss in the report.
- able to answer specific questions and explain the methods you will use to support the main argument.
- debatable. In other words, the chosen thesis statement should provide an opportunity for the reader to argue with your argument, or to support it.
Step 2. Package the thesis statement properly
So that the sentence used can be identified by the reader as a thesis statement, make sure you package the thesis statement in the right tone, phrase, and diction. For example, feel free to use the phrase “because of” and other dictions that sound firm and definitive.
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Some examples of thesis statements with slick-sounding sentences are:
- "Because William the Conqueror managed to take control of England, it was finally able to build the culture and strength needed to develop the British Empire."
- "Hemingway changed the world of literature significantly by normalizing writing that was simple and uncomplicated."
Step 3. Understand the correct placement of the thesis statement
Because the thesis statement has such a large role in a report, most writers will place it at the beginning of the report, generally right at the end of the first paragraph or elsewhere in the introductory chapter. While most people include their thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph, the exact location of the thesis depends on several factors, such as the length of the introductory paragraph before the thesis is introduced, as well as the length of your report.
Step 4. Limit the thesis statement to one or two sentences
Basically, a thesis statement should be written as simple and clear as possible to help the reader identify the topic, determine the direction of the report, and understand your position as the author on the subject.
Part 3 of 3: Finding the Perfect Thesis Statement
Step 1. Choose a topic that interests you
In fact, this is the first step that all writers of essays and other academic reports must take, especially since the entire direction of the argument will of course refer to the topic at hand. Unfortunately, this step should be skipped if you don't have the freedom to choose a topic.
Step 2. Do a topic exploration
The purpose of this step is to narrow down the subject of discussion that will be discussed later in the report. For example, the big topic you have chosen is computers. Because there are so many aspects covered in the topic, such as hardware, software, and programming systems, the subject of discussion should be narrowed down so that the focus of the report is not too broad. For example, you may ultimately decide to discuss a more specific phenomenon, such as the impact Steve Jobs' existence had on the modern computer industry, to clarify the focus of the report.
Step 3. Know the type, purpose, and audience of the report
Usually, all three will be determined by the teacher. However, if you have the freedom to choose all three, understand that your decision will determine the sound of the thesis statement. For example, if you decide to write a persuasive report, then the purpose of writing the report is to prove something to a specific group. However, if you decide to write a descriptive report, the purpose of writing a report is to describe something to a specific group. These goals are what your thesis statement should look like.
Step 4. Follow the applicable structure
Understanding basic formulas will not only help you produce a less lengthy thesis statement, it will also help you, as the writer, to see the structure of your argument more clearly. In general, a thesis statement should consist of two parts:
- A clear topic or subject of discussion
- Summary of your arguments as a writer
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Another method that can be used is to view the thesis statement as a formula, or pattern, that contains the idea:
- [Something/someone] [happens/does something] because of [reason].
- Because of [reason], [something/someone] [happening/doing something].
- Despite [contradictory evidence], [reason] shows [something/someone] [happening/doing something].
- The last example involves opposing arguments, which will actually make the thesis statement look more complicated, but can strengthen your argument as a writer. In fact, you should always be aware of all arguments against a thesis statement. Doing so will undoubtedly make your thesis appear sharper, as well as encourage you to reconsider the arguments that have been or will be refuted in the report.
Step 5. Write your thesis statement
Writing a thesis statement at the beginning of your report, generally in the introduction, will help you get your argument on the right track. In addition, you will be encouraged to constantly refer to the thesis statement when writing an idea, develop ideas into deeper arguments, and clarify the contents of the report. By using this method, you will undoubtedly be able to analyze the thesis statement logically, clearly, and straightforwardly.
So far, there are two popular views regarding the timing of formulating a proper thesis. Some people think that a report should not be made if there is no thesis statement as a basic reference. However, there are also those who think that the thesis statement must be formulated at the end of the report writing process, right when the author has known the direction of the arguments in the report. Regardless of the differences in views, please choose the step that is best for you
Step 6. Reanalyze the thesis statement after you have completed the final draft
Do this to ensure that there are no minor or major errors that could undermine your thesis. As a guide on what to do and avoid, consider the following:
- Never package a thesis statement in the form of a question sentence. Remember, the purpose of a thesis is to answer questions, not ask them.
- Do not package the thesis statement in the form of a list. To answer a specific question, including too many variables will only confuse the focus of the article. Therefore, make sure that the thesis statement is always as concise and concise as possible.
- In a thesis statement, never mention a topic that is not covered in the report.
- Don't use first person pronouns. For example, personal-sounding sentences such as, “I will show you…,” will generally not be responded to positively by reviewers.
- Don't use an aggressive tone of voice. Remember, the purpose of a report is to convince readers of your position on a topic, not to irritate or even offend them, and the best way to achieve that goal is to get the reader to listen to you. That's why, make sure you always use diction that is neutral and open to different views.
Step 7. Understand that a thesis statement need not be absolute
That is, view the thesis statement as a dynamic subject and can continue to change. While doing the writing process, chances are that your opinion or the direction of your argument will constantly change, although the changes will certainly not be significant. Therefore, keep reading your thesis statement, comparing it with yours, and making sure they are consistent. After your report is complete, re-read the thesis statement that has been written and determine whether or not the revision process is necessary.
Tips
- An effective thesis statement must be able to control the whole argument. This means that the thesis statement must be able to define what you can and cannot say. If there is a paragraph that does not support your thesis statement, feel free to delete the paragraph or change the thesis statement.
- Treat the thesis statement as a case for which an attorney must defend. That is, a quality thesis statement must be able to explain a case that you want to raise, as well as explain the method that will be used to present the case to the reader. If you want, the thesis statement can also be analogized as a contract letter that the reader needs to read first, so that they are not surprised by the new ideas you offer in your essay or dissertation.
